A charging system is provided for an electric vehicle. A vehicle battery stores electrical energy used to drive the electric vehicle. A refillable storage device is carried by the vehicle for storing compressed fluid from an off-vehicle supply of compressed fluid. An expander is in fluid communication with the refillable storage device. The expander selectively receives the compressed fluid from the refillable storage device when the vehicle battery is in need of charging and generates a rotational energy in response to the compressed fluid flowing through the expander. A generator is rotationally coupled to the expander and electrically coupled to the vehicle battery for converting the rotational energy into electrical energy that is transferred to and stored by the vehicle battery.